What To Do if You Suspect a Leak in Your Unit
Water leaks can be stressful — but in a multi-unit condominium like Wafco Mills, they don’t just affect you; they can impact your neighbors as well. Knowing the right steps to take will save time, money, and frustration.
Step 1: Tenants — Call Your Landlord or Your Owner’s Property Manager (not HOA board or HOA Manager)
If you are a tenant, your first point of contact is always your landlord (the unit owner) or their property manager.
If your landlord has a property manager, call them.
If not, your landlord is “self-managing” and you must contact them directly.
🚫 The HOA Board of Directors and HOA management company do not speak to tenants. Ever. Our governing documents are clear: the Board only communicates with the unit owner or their property manager.
Step 2: Owners Take Action
Once notified, owners must investigate and respond. Depending on the situation, this may include:
If you believe the roof is the source: Owners must Contact the HOA management company to request a roof inspection. Carolina’s Best Roofing installed new roofs at Wafco Mills in 2021 and remains the contractor of record and they will send out a technician to inspect. Owners or their tenants may not authorize anyone’s access to the roof and will be fined for allowing unauthorized vendors/contractors onto the roof.
If you are the bottom unit in a stacked pair: Contact the owner above you immediately and ask that they turn off their water and contact their owner or owner’s unit manager.
Insurance: Both upper and lower unit owners should contact their HO-6 insurance provider and exchange information with each other. Tenants with renter’s insurace may contact their renters insurance provider if they have coverage for this.
Shut off water: Each unit has its own water shut-off valve. Owners must know where it is, communicate this to their tenants, and ensure tenants can access it. In the event of a leak, turn off your water immediately and ask the upstairs unit to do the same.
Step 3: Common Leak Sources
Leaks between stacked units are unfortunate but manageable if handled correctly. The most common causes include:
Missing or damaged grout/caulking in showers.
Failed toilet wax rings.
Worn tub overflow gaskets that need replacement.
Plumbing behind kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, toilets and shoer/tubs.
Washer supply lines and plumbing connections.
Frozen HVAC condensers in summer that overflow when thawing.
Roof leaks (rare, but possible).
💡 Reminder for Owners: These buildings were built in the 1980s, so many individual utility service lines are approaching 50 years of age. Owners who proactively update their units are encouraged to replace old gaskets, supply lines, and plumbing components at the same time they update fixtures like cabinets and appliances.
Step 4: Documentation & Governing Rules
Owners are responsible for submitting leases and signed Rules & Regulations for each tenant to the HOA.
Owners are fined if their tenant violates rules or fails to follow processes that HOA board has set for communication.
The North Carolina Condominium Act (N.C.G.S. § 47C-3-107 & 113) places responsibility on owners for maintaining interiors, while the HOA is responsible only for common elements.
Why This Matters
Leaks can be disruptive, but if everyone knows their role, the issue can be resolved quickly with less stress and less damage:
Tenants → Call your landlord.
Owners → Take immediate action, contact neighbors, insurers, and HOA management if common property is involved.
HOA manager and board → Oversees only common element issues, like roofs, in accordance with the governing documents.
✅ In summary: Tenants report leaks to landlords, landlords coordinate repairs and insurance, and the HOA steps in only when common elements are involved. Clear communication and fast response keep our community safe and our homes protected.
